Football | 10/4/2008 3:25:32 PM
Box Score In a Great Northwest Athletic Conference football game on Saturday afternoon at McArthur Field, Western Oregon posted the highest numbers in the scorebook, but not on the scoreboard.
Western Washington defeated Western Oregon 24-13 in an important conference counter that allowed the Vikings to move past the Wolves in the standings. WWU improved to 3-2 on the season and 3-1 in the GNAC, while the hosts dropped to 3-3 and 3-2 in conference play.
The Wolves led the Vikings in total offense (373-276), first downs (20-14) and time of possession (31-29). But they also led in missed opportunities, as Western Washington won the re-match between the two clubs.
Three times in the first half, Western Oregon had the ball inside the Viking 20-yard line and did not score. On one of those possessions, WOU had the ball first and goal on the one-yard line and on another, they reached the nine-yard line but wouldn't have anything to show for it.
"It certainly was a day of missed opportunities," said WOU head coach Arne Ferguson. "We outplayed them in the first half, but we still trailed 17-7."
Western Oregon jumped out to a 7-0 lead at 12:14 in the first quarter on a 16-yard pass from Josh Riddell to Shaun Kauleinamoku. The Wolves took advantage of Western Washington's fumble on the opening kickoff when Jon Dowd recovered the ball on the 21-yard line. Five plays later on third down the Wolves scored.
The Vikings responded on its first offensive play from scrimmage to tie the game at seven. Adam Perry completed a play-action pass to running back Randall Eldrige on the far sideline and he scampered 56 yards untouched for the score.
The defenses took over from there as the game remained locked at 7-7 until the 0:40 mark in the second quarter when Perry found Pat McCann for a 20-yard touchdown completion to cap WWU's eight play, 80 yard drive. Western Oregon limited Western Washington to just 12 yards on the ground and 2-of-5 third down conversions in the first half but big plays and WOU turnovers kept them in the game. The Vikings Josh Lider would add a 48-yard field goal as time expired to give WWU the 17-7 halftime advantage.
The Wolves offense stagnated in the third quarter, and the Vikings added another score with 6:46 left after a bad WOU snap on a punt attempt gave the visitors great field position. A six-yard run by Eldrige put WWU up 24-7. Western Oregon, who defeated the Vikings 36-27 on Sept. 6 in Bellingham, continued to struggle in the fourth quarter on offense until a three-yard run by Riddell pulled WOU to within 24-13 wit'h 5:53 left.
WOU would get the ball back two more times in WWU territory, but as was the theme of the afternoon for the Wolves, they would not be able to convert for a score.
Riddell finished with 239 yards on 21-of-39 passing and one touchdown. He had the three-yard rushing touchdown, but also was picked off three times in the game. DJ Jackson recorded his second 100-yard rushing game of the season against Western Washington as he had 112 yards on 13 carries (8.6 average) including a 68-yarder. Isaiah Smith hauled in seven catches for 106 yards to lead the team.
Matt Cox led WOU's defense with eight tackles, including two for losses. JT Gilmore added eight grabs as well. Nick Cragin led the Viking defense with 14 tackles, including two for losses, and he also had an interception.
WWU quarterback Perry connected on 17 of 26 passes for 241 yards and two scores. Travis McKee had six of those catches for 88 yards. Eldrige finished with 53 yards rushing and also had four catches for 78 yards.
The Western Oregon football team will be on the road for the third time in four weeks as when faces in-state rival Southern Oregon (1-4) Saturday, Oct. 11, at 2:00 p.m., in Ashland.
